A Simple Guide to Spinal Nerve Compression, Diagnosis, Treatment and Related Conditions

By Kenneth Kee

This book describes Spinal Nerve Compression, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

Compressed Spinal Nerve

A compressed spinal nerve occurs when a nerve is pressed on
By other surrounding tissues such as muscles and bone
This can result in nerve pain, tingling and numbness
And difficulty controlling specific muscles or weakness

The nerve injury may result from compression, constriction
From a bone spur or overstretched muscle tension
Sharp or burning pain may radiate outward.
Sometimes coughing or sneezing causes the pain downward

Treatment is by rest of the affected nerve
Exercising can strengthen the muscles the nerve serves
Analgesics such as brufen will relieve the pain
Corticosteroid injections help to relieve the inflamed

Surgery is the last resort to release pressure on the pinched nerve
By removing the spurs or cutting the ligaments of the tight carpal tunnel
An inter-vertebral disk is excised whole or part by part
And replaced with a bone graft or metal disk is inserted

-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

Recently I have a female elderly patient who had such severe pain on her right that she was unable to walk.

This severe pain started suddenly, beginning from the right back and going down her right leg.

I suspected sciatica of the right leg due to a possible herniated disc.

However she was able to bend her back forward and backward without much pain.

A straight leg raising test on the right leg was negative.

At the same time she has swelling and pain of both knees, suggesting knee osteoarthritis.

I prescribed some pain killer (Arcoxia) and when the pain did not go away suggested that she undergo a MRI of the back and both knees.

The MRI showed the bulging of the discs at L4 and L5 and a tear of the sheath covering the bulging disc at L4 and mild osteoarthritis of the knees.

It was a tear and bulging L4 disc that causes the severe pain and the inability to walk.

Pregabalin or Lyrica an anticonvulsant medicine used to treat neuropathic pain was given to treat the pain while she was told to rest and avoid putting pressure on her leg by using a walking frame.

She is at present recovering from the nerve pain with rest and use of a walking frame.

The spinal cord comprises 31 pairs of nerves that supply sensation and movement to different regions of the body.

These large nerves branch off from the spinal cord and leave the spinal canal through small openings in the bony vertebrae that comprise the spinal column (backbone).

Many disorders can induce this opening to become narrow leading to spinal nerve compression, also termed a pinched spinal nerve.

A pinched spinal nerve is a frequent cause of pain and stiffness but spinal nerve compression can happen anywhere along the spine, from the top (cervical spine) to the bottom (sacrum).

Often, spinal nerve compression indicates an aggravation more than a health threat but an untreated compressed nerve in the spine could cause chronic pain or muscle weakness.

A compressed spinal nerve can happen anywhere in the body.

A herniated disk in the lumbar spine may cause pressure on a nerve root producing severe pain that radiates down the back of the leg (sciatica).

Spinal nerve compression symptoms often are pain, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness or twitching in the affected area

Gadolinium contrast-enhanced MR imaging is the best method for diagnosis

Conservative noninvasive treatment is normally the first treatment.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Spinal Nerve Compression
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Herniated Disc
Chapter 8 Sciatica
Epilogue

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: Apr 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005431655

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

A

Simple

Guide

To

Spinal Nerve Compression,

Diagnosis,

Treatment

And

Related Conditions

By

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2022 Smashwords Edition

Published by Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

To my wife Dorothy

And my children

Carolyn, Grace

And Kelvin

This book describes Spinal Nerve Compression, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases which is seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic.

(What You Need to Treat Spinal Nerve Compression)

This e-Book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Introduction

I have been writing medical articles for my blog: http://kennethkee.blogspot.com (A Simple Guide to Medical Disorder) for the benefit of my patients since 2007.

My purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of my patients.

Health Education was also my dissertation for my Ph.D (Healthcare Administration).

I then wrote an autobiography account of my journey as a medical student to family doctor on my other blog: http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com.

This autobiography account A Family Doctor’s Tale was combined with my early A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders into a new Wordpress Blog A Family Doctor’s Tale on http://kenkee481.wordpress.com.

From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 800 eBooks.

Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.

For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.

The later books go into more details of medical disorders.

The first chapter is always from my earlier blogs which unfortunately tends to have typos and spelling mistakes.

Since 2013, I have tried to improve my spelling and writing.

As I tried to bring the patient the latest information about a disorder or illness by reading the latest journals both online and offline, I find that I am learning more and improving on my own medical knowledge in diagnosis and treatment for my patients.

My diagnosis and treatment capability has improved tremendously from my continued education.

Just by writing all these simple guides I find that I have learned a lot from your reviews (good or bad), criticism and advice.

I am sorry for the repetitions in these simple guides as the second chapters onwards have new information as compared to my first chapter taken from my blog.

I also find repetition definitely help me and maybe some readers to remember the facts in the books more easily.

I apologize if these repetitions are irritating to some readers.

Chapter 1

Spinal nerve compression

Compressed Spinal Nerve

A compressed spinal nerve occurs when a nerve is pressed on

By other surrounding tissues such as muscles and bone

This can result in nerve pain, tingling and numbness

And difficulty controlling specific muscles or weakness

The nerve injury may result from compression, constriction

From a bone spur or overstretched muscle tension

Sharp or burning pain may radiate outward.

Sometimes coughing or sneezing causes the pain downward

Treatment is by rest of the affected nerve

Exercising can strengthen the muscles the nerve serves

Analgesics such as brufen will relieve the pain

Corticosteroid injections help to relieve the inflamed

Surgery is the last resort to release pressure on the compressed nerve

By removing the spurs or cutting the ligaments of the tight carpal tunnel

An inter-vertebral disk is excised whole or part by part

And replaced with a bone graft or metal disk is inserted

-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

Recently I have a female elderly patient who had such severe pain